Fantasy football managers chasing Week 6 buy-low trade targets should circle Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray and Bengals receiver Tee Higgins, two proven producers whose teams are on bye while frustrated managers need points now.
Murray ran for 51 yards in a 23-13 win at New Orleans, and Higgins caught two passes for 22 yards in Miami while banged up. Injuries and quiet box scores have also lowered prices on Browns running back Quinshon Judkins and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
MORE: Week 6 fantasy football PPR rankings: Parker Washington, Christian Watson soar
How did last week’s buy-low targets perform?
Jaguars receiver Parker Washington delivered the best return from last week’s buy-low targets, catching six passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns in a 19-17 win over the Eagles in London. Bears running back D’Andre Swift ran for 43 yards and a touchdown and caught four passes for 30 yards in a 31-7 loss at Green Bay.
Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid caught one of two targets for seven yards plus a two-point conversion in a 37-34 overtime win over the Rams, so his price stays low. Cardinals receiver Michael Wilson caught four of seven targets for 30 yards against Detroit, but Arizona has since traded Marvin Harrison Jr. to Houston.
Bears tight end Colston Loveland caught two of five targets for 19 yards. Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is questionable at Atlanta, and Panthers receiver Jalen Coker practiced fully on Wednesday after a quad injury.
MORE: Week 6 fantasy football PPR rankings: Parker Washington, Christian Watson soar
Kyler Murray, QB, Minnesota Vikings
- Last week: 24 of 30, 229 yds, 1 TD; 51 rush yds, 23-13 W Saints
- This week: Bye
Murray completed 80% of his passes without a turnover at New Orleans and picked up three first downs with his legs as Minnesota moved to 5-0. His manager now has to find a Week 6 starter, which gives leverage to anyone already set at quarterback.
His supporting cast should improve after the bye. Head coach Kevin O’Connell said running back Jordan Mason will return for the Week 7 home game against the Colts, and he’s hopeful tight end T.J. Hockenson, receiver Jordan Addison and tackle Christian Darrisaw will be back in the lineup. After Indianapolis, the Vikings play at Detroit and host Buffalo.
MORE: Week 6 fantasy football QB start-sit: Cousins, Herbert, Nix, Shough
Quinshon Judkins, RB, Cleveland Browns
- Last week: 14 car., 44 yds; 3 rec., 6 yds, 17-12 L Jets
- This week: Ravens at Browns, Sunday, Oct. 18, 1 p.m. ET (questionable)
Judkins has 73 carries for 221 yards and one touchdown, a 3.0-yard average that has worn on managers who drafted him as a lead back. Still, he averages more than 18 opportunities per game and remains Cleveland’s clear top option.
The ankle drives the discount. Judkins left the Jets loss in a walking boot, and head coach Todd Monken called it a “tweak.” He missed practice Wednesday and Thursday before a limited session Friday, and he’s questionable against Baltimore. It’s the same ankle he dislocated as a rookie. Backup Dylan Sampson is out with a knee injury, but Judkins fits only managers who can wait, not those who need a Week 6 starter.
MORE: Week 6 fantasy football RB start-sit: Pollard, Lloyd, Tuten, Marks
Jordan Mason, RB, Minnesota Vikings
- Last game: Week 1, 15 car., 59 yds, 1 TD, 39-22 W Packers
- This week: Bye (injured reserve, thumb)
Mason led Minnesota in carries in the opener before a fractured thumb required surgery and landed him on injured reserve. He split snaps almost evenly with Aaron Jones that day, and Jones just ran 25 times for 113 yards and the game-winning touchdown at New Orleans, so Mason’s manager may see little reason to keep stashing him.
O’Connell has signaled a bigger role ahead. “Jordan Mason is going to be a big part of that as we get him back coming off the bye,” O’Connell said. Jones also lost a red-zone fumble against the Saints. Mason wasn’t targeted in the opener, so buy him at a committee price based on carries and touchdown chances.
MORE: Week 6 fantasy football waiver wire FAAB: Aaron Rodgers, Pat Freiermuth are top adds
Rome Odunze, WR, Chicago Bears
- Last week: 3 rec., 40 yds on 9 tar., 1 FL, 31-7 L Packers
- This week: Bears at Falcons, Sunday, Oct. 18, 1 p.m. ET
Odunze led Chicago in targets at Green Bay but caught three passes and lost a fumble with Tyson Bagent at quarterback. He has run a route on 93% of dropbacks over the past three games while averaging 7.3 targets, and he has at least one catch of 20-plus yards in every game.
Williams practiced fully on Friday after missing three games with a right hamstring injury, and he’s questionable. Head coach Ben Johnson said Williams is “on track right now” but added the team needs to see him “stack a few back-to-back” practices. Odunze’s role held up through backup quarterbacks, and Williams’ return would improve the passes he’s getting.
MORE: NFC power rankings for NFL Week 6: Packers surge, Vikings jump Seahawks
Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
- Last week: 2 rec., 22 yds, 31-24 W Dolphins
- This week: Bye
Higgins played through injuries in Miami and posted his worst line of the season, and the bye hands his manager another zero. He still has three 90-yard games, and he earns a target on 25% of his routes alongside quarterback Joe Burrow, who leads the NFL with a 71.4% completion rate.
Head coach Zac Taylor said Ja’Marr Chase and Higgins are banged up and called the bye a chance to “get some guys healthy”. Cincinnati returns at Baltimore on Oct. 25. Target managers with losing records who can’t absorb another empty week.
MORE: Jalen Hurts injury update: Eagles reveal key decision on star QB’s blood clot
Carnell Tate, WR, Tennessee Titans
- Last week: 1 rec., 6 yds on 5 tar., 26-3 L Texans
- This week: Titans at Colts, Sunday, Oct. 18, 1 p.m. ET
Tate followed a nine-catch, 145-yard game in Week 4 with one catch against Houston after a back injury limited him in practice. The No. 4 overall pick isn’t on Tennessee’s final Week 6 injury report, and neither is quarterback Cam Ward.
The 0-5 start has weighed on the former Ohio State star. “It’s rough. I ain’t never lose like this in my life,” Tate said. Tennessee’s remaining schedule includes two games each against Indianapolis and Jacksonville, plus Cleveland, Dallas, Washington and Detroit. Ward has 896 passing yards and three touchdowns in five games, so buy Tate’s volume without expecting weekly WR2 numbers.
MORE: Week 6 fantasy football WR start-sit: Chris Godwin, Rashod Bateman, Dontayvion Wicks
Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs
- Last game: Week 4, 2 rec., 15 yds on 4 tar., 30-27 W Raiders
- This week: Chargers at Chiefs, Sunday, Oct. 18, 4:25 p.m. ET
Kelce had 231 yards through three games before managing 15 at Las Vegas, and Kansas City’s Week 5 bye left that dud as his last impression. He has 16 catches for 246 yards and two touchdowns in four games.
Receiver Rashee Rice is out with hamstring and knee injuries, while quarterback Patrick Mahomes practiced fully all week and carries no designation. The Chargers ruled out safety Derwin James Jr. and cornerback Donte Jackson, according to the Week 6 injury report. Rice’s absence is public, so offer a mid-range TE1 price and don’t pay a top-five premium.
MORE: Week 6 fantasy football TE start/sit: Freiermuth, Higbee, Waller, Henry
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